AI's growing influence in cardiology | New heart failure implant shows potential | FDA clears advanced technologies

Cardiology is No. 2 behind radiology when it comes to FDA-cleared AI algorithms. Neurology, meanwhile, is a distant No. 3. 

The AI-powered Relief System is able to modulate venous pressure using hemodynamic data. The goal is to help patients better manage heart failure congestion at home. 

Patients electing to undergo a whole-body MRI at one Florida facility are now able to undergo a CCTA exam at the same time. All results are interpreted by a cardiologist, and the patient meets with a physician for a one-on-one consultation.  

While the Trump administration is pushing to accelerate clinical AI adoption, SCAI has emphasized that physicians must guide how the technology is implemented and governed.

The new SmartHeart technology automates 14 cardiac views in less than 30 seconds. It was designed to increase productivity and bring more consistency to cardiology and radiology departments.

Heartflow's AI technologies are at the center of multiple ACC.26 presentations. In addition, the company announced, the first patient was enrolled into the NAVIGATE-PCI registry.

Multiple cardiology societies responded to an HHS request for public feedback by outlining some of the current barriers to wider AI adoption. "It is essential that any policy frameworks must reaffirm that clinicians—not algorithms—remain at the center of patient care," ACC President Christopher Kramer, MD, said. 

AI has shown the potential to transform patient care. However, there are more details to consider than many health systems and policymakers realize. 

The newly cleared CARA System from Cara Medical was designed to help clinicians before and during a variety of cardiac procedures. It provides a personalized 3D map of the patient's cardiac conduction system and then overlays that map onto live fluoroscopic images.

The AI model showcased an ability to accurately identify signs of pulmonary hypertension in retinal images. "This opens the possibility of using a simple photograph to gain insights into a premature infant's overall health," one researcher explained.